SBA’s Michigan District Office is now accepting nominations for its 2014 Small Business Awards. Winners will be honored at the Michigan Celebrates Small Business event on May 6, 2014.

The Michigan Small Business Person of the Year and will be in contention for the National Small Business Person of the Year award and selected at the Small Business Week event in Washington, D.C. Those who advance to the final selection stage will be asked for a complete nomination packet that addresses the criteria below.

How to Submit a Nomination:

Submit a one page nomination letter that contains the following required information to michigan@sba.gov.

1. Number of employees in the company
2. Annual sales in 2010, 2011, and 2012
3. North American Industrial Classification code (Check online http://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/ to find your NAIC code.
4. A brief paragraph that highlights some of the criteria and tells a compelling story.

Deadline: Submit the one page nomination letter no later than December 9, 2013.

Criteria for each Award:
Small Business Person of the Year: For developing an outstanding, growing business; innovative product(s), increasing jobs, increasing sales, overcoming adversity, and community contributions. Criteria include:
Staying power – a substantiated history as an established business
Growth in number of employees
Increase in sales and/or unit volume
Current and past financial reports (profit and loss statements & balance sheets for the past three years.)
Innovativeness of product or service
Response to Adversity
Contributions to aid community-oriented projects

Small Business Exporter of the Year: Significantly increased export sales and profits, encouraging other firms to export, increased jobs through exports, and innovative methods of creating markets. Criteria include: • Increased sales, profits and/or growth of employment because of exporting. Current and past financial reports (profit and loss statements & balance sheets for the past three years.) • Creative overseas marketing strategies, with description of products & markets served Effective solutions to export-related problems • Encouraged other small businesses to export • Introduction of unique trading companies
• Volunteer assistance to other small businesses entering the export market

SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Owner will not reach 30th birthday by June 1, 2014, three-year evidence of success in sales and profits, increased jobs, innovative products, demonstrated potential. Criteria include:
Evidence of success as measured by sales and profits. (Profit & Loss statements and balance sheets for the past three years)
Increased employment opportunities
Development and utilization of innovative or creative business methods
Demonstrated entrepreneurial potential for long-term success

Jeffrey Butland Family Owned Small Business – A family owned business that has passed from one generation to another and owner has responsibility for operating the business with at least a 15 year track record. Criteria include:
Evidence of success as measured by sales and profits. (Profit & Loss statements and balance sheets for the past three years)
Increased employment opportunities for family and non-family
Demonstrated potential necessary for long-term business success and economic growth
Voluntary efforts to strengthen family owned businesses within the community.